ROSWELL, Ga. – The Drake House of Roswell received an unexpected gift Jan. 8 – a $5,000 donation from Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.

“This means a lot,” said Kathy Swahn, executive director of the Drake House, a charity offering emergency shelter to homeless women and their children.

The average cost to house a family at the Drake House is about $8,000 for 120 days, which is the average length of stay.

The Drake House is filled to capacity right now, with 15 families and 32 children in residence. In 2012, there were 14,091 total bed nights – that is, nights with a person sleeping in the bed.

“They are all from North Fulton,” Swahn said. “So many people think we don’t have the need up here.”

The money came from the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office in Roswell. Each of the metro Atlanta area offices had a goal and deadline for “outgoing referrals” in 2013. These referrals are when a person anywhere in the country moves and needs to be connected with another broker. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage makes that connection.

“We help people find qualified sales associates anywhere in the country to represent them,” said Karen Pate, with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.

The offices were in the running for the grand prize, a donation of $5,000 to a charity of the winner’s choice. Roswell accepted the challenge and met their goal.

“We chose the Drake House because they are local. Everybody understands the importance of their mission in the community,” said Pate. “Everybody stepped up to the plate. It means a lot to help raise the money.”

For more about the Drake House, visit them online at www.thedrakehouse.org. For more about Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, visit them online at www.coldwellbankeratlanta.com or the Roswell office at 620 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell.